Warnings: Yaoi, 39, 85, HomuraxGoku ( - if you're not comfortable with this, turn back now. I will not be held responsible if I will somehow traumatize you or something. You have been warned!), Rated for language, Character OOC, lemon implications…

Disclaimie: If I was that rich I would've owned them by now… lol... but I can't be considered rich… yet… (Note the yet☺)

Epilogue: Burning On

By: dream-eater-is-hungry

Sanzo's POV

"I'm only sorry that I loved you in the first place…"

As those words resonated in my head, I felt as if I've been punched in the stomach. Except, it didn't hurt. Correction, it did not hurt my abdomen. Rather the pain, the ache… it was all focused in my chest. As I opened my eyes, I was met by the sight of the immaculate white ceiling of my apartment. I sighed deeply, bringing up my arm to rest upon my forehead, trying to block out the oh-so-giddy rays of the god damn morning sun.

'Damn, I hate mornings,' I thought, irritated. I never was a morning person. Never was and never will. 'Especially those mornings after that stupid dream,' I added as an afterthought.

I closed my eyes, watching in my mind's eye, each moment played in synchronized perfection. It had been, what, about four years now, and yet the memory is still as fresh as that night. The rain, his face, his tears, all of it, haunting me relentlessly in the realm of dreams by night and in the sea of musings on the remaining hours of the day. It was as if the stupid gods up there in their high up thrones had placed a curse on me, so that I'd be unable to just forget it all. Fuck them.

I shook my head in exasperation, hoping to wipe out any trace of sleep or that dream in my mind. Screw this. I glanced at my bedside table, when my alarm clock stood.

'6:42', it read.

'Eighteen more minutes to kill before that damned thing would screech its gears out.' I realized with irony at how, I never liked mornings and yet, I always manage to wake up at such ungodly hours.

Running one of hands into my golden locks, I pulled myself into an upright position. I swung my legs over the side and stood up, heading to the adjoining bathroom. Hopefully, a nice hot shower would numb my thoughts.

I stripped off my boxers and stepped unto the cold tiles of my wash. Turning the stainless knob, giving off my distorted reflection on its smooth surface, I closed my eyes, surrendering myself to my thoughts as the warm water cascaded down my taunt body.

In my thoughts, I saw him just as he was that night. When I found him, he was sprawled all over the ground, his wounds having reopened again. He was drenched from the rain, we both were. I distinctly remember how he looked like that night. His chocolate locks had stuck to his forehead, water mixing with blood from his head wound dancing down his to the tips of his hair, making them look like long tresses of that of a woman. The usual golden orbs that radiated happiness were filled with bitterness and pain, hiding beneath anger. Our high school uniform, which had stuck to his body like second skin, distinctly reminded of when one wears leather. Yes, he was at his worst at that night, though not only him, but also our terms with each other. But I never expected that, that would be the last time I'd ever really see him then.

After that incident, he had his entire schedule redone and had all his classes switched, courtesy of his fucked up rich parents of course. He had himself completely isolated from me. Though, he was still the top of the class, and never failed to win every game they had, when you'd see him smile, it wasn't the one you'd used to see him wearing. When he'd spare grin, you'd feel nothing but sadness emanating from his cold lifeless eyes. The old Goku had gone that night. Now all he was but a shell of his former self that had been long lost.

When Gojyo saw this radical change in Goku, he immediately blamed me, even though Goku didn't say a word to him. I hate to admit it but the fucking red-head was no fool. He knew that underneath his smiling mask, was his friend, crying silent tears.

I clenched my fist and punched the wall in my frustration. That night, four years ago, it could've ended another way. The choice was there standing in front of me, yet I still decided to turn my back to it.

I heaved a long aggravated sigh, before opening my eyes just as the damn alarm clock started screaming its gears out. I grabbed my towel and tied it around my waist. Small puddles had formed on my bedroom floor as I headed towards my bedside table, got the alarm clock and threw it on the floor.

"Shut up…" I grunted at my broken clock.

I dried myself off and dressed in my usual casual tight jeans with a form fitting white collared shirt that I only buttoned up until mid-chest. I took out my choker with a silver crucifix from my bedside drawer along with my silver thumb ring and put them on. I went back into the bathroom and checked my reflection over.

"That should get the professors into a fit…" I thought, smirking at myself, "like always…"

I grabbed my leather attaché case1 and my electric organizer before leaving my room and into the kitchen. I sat down, taking out my reading glasses as I proceeded to read the morning paper.

"Good morning!" a cheery voice greeted me, accompanied by the aroma of French toast and black coffee wafting inside the kitchen.

"There's nothing good about the mornings, Hakkai," I grunted, not even bothering to look up from the newspaper.

He chuckled in reply. "You do realize that the professors will reprimand you again for going against the dress code. The professors in Takaoka Hoka Daigaku 2 are especially strict you know. Even if your uncle Komyou once studied there, they aren't going to give you any considerations just because you're the nephew of their colleague." he stated, putting down my breakfast in front of me.

"Who cares? Those old buffoons are nothing but pains up my ass," I remarked, turning the page.

"Well, you are taking up law you know," he replied, "in a way, you're supposed to be following rules, not breaking them."

"Ch," I grunted, "whatever."

For a while, silence had taken over our conversation. Except for my occasional shuffling of the pages, all was quiet.

Looking up, I saw Hakkai sitting across form me, smiling giddily like that of a child who just received a new toy from his mother, his cheek rested against the palm of his hand.

"What is it?" I asked, irritated, "I know you didn't come here just to make me breakfast, spit it out."

"You're right," he answered, ignoring my rudeness, his lips still sporting a smile, "I came here to tell you... that well…" He chuckled, scratching the back of his head, apparently not knowing how to say whatever he was saying to me.

"He has another game tonight hasn't he?" I demanded, making certain not to say his name, "is that it?"

"Well, technically…" he replied, chuckling, "yeah. You should come you know…"

"Why bother…" I retorted, "I'd be wasting my time going all the way to Sendai City just to see him after I'd made clear four years ago that I wanted nothing to do with him…"

"But you should at least…" he tried to reason.

"Don't even try Hakkai," I retorted, cutting him off, my voice sounding colder than usual, "Because you'll just be wasting your breath, so do us both a favor and just shut up."

Hakkai sighed in defeat, knowing full well that I wasn't about to change my mind. He stood up, took something out of his pocket and placed on the table. "In case you change your mind," he stated, his tone, hard and cold, "Now, if you excuse me, I'm late for my class."

At the corner of my eye, I saw his take his folded med coat 3 and walk out the door. As soon as he had left, I turned my gaze to the ticket that he had left for me.

"Humph."

I took it and stuffed it into my bag, along with the many previous others that I had accumulated, courtesy of Hakkai, not even sparing it a second glance.

I sipped my coffee, thinking back to what I've said.

"Why bother…" I retorted, "I'd be wasting my time going all the way to Sendai City just to see him after I'd made clear four years ago that I wanted nothing to do with him…"

That's what I had told Hakkai, that it was but a waste of time to go all the way to Sendai City just to see some stupid basketball game. But was that really the reason why I didn't go? Or was it really that I didn't want to go and see him again? Was it because I don't think I can stand it, seeing him and as if reliving those days back in our senior years when he completely shunned me away and instead, threw his affections away to that horny as hell Homura who didn't even fucking deserve a single drop of his attention?

Damn. I hate it when I get so… reflective.

Goku's POV

Pride. One of the causes of Adam and Eve's downfall. Their conceited souls had lead them to believe that eating the apple from the Tree of All Knowledge of Good and Evil, would give them wisdom equaling to that of God's, yet in the end, their desire had backfired on them, leading to their own banishment. What a horrible thing. Yet, it was it that stopped you, wasn't it, ne? Your pride I mean. It had you wear your cold, unfeeling mask, for you to hide behind. And as time passed, you too, became just like the façade that you carried, void of any emotion. I thought at first that maybe on day, I'll be able to see the real man behind the disguise. But I was foolish, foolish enough to believe in such nonsense. I should've seen it coming. I should've seen that I was no match for your inflated ego, Sanzo.

I pressed my forehead against the window glass, watching the morning rain pelting down the city of Sendai. As I gazed blankly at the intricate patterns of the water as it slid down the glass, I closed my eyes, willing my tears to fall, but I couldn't.

'Four years,' I mused, 'for years since that fateful night. Four years since I forgot how to cry.'

Suddenly, I tensed when I felt two arms snaking around my bare waist, pulling lightly from behind.

"There you are…" a low voice murmured in my ear, my cold skin shivering at the warmth of his breath.

"Homura…" I whispered, never quite getting use to his touch, "Did I wake you up?"

"Not really…" he replied, nuzzling the crook of my neck at the same time, lightly running his fingers on my lower abdomen, "though it got a little cold without you…"

I opened my mouth to say something in reply, but instead of words, what came out was a gasp. I threw back my head, moaning in pleasure as Homura stroked me though the fabric of my silk boxers.

"You like that, don't you…?" he purred, his warm tongue lapping on my earlobe.

"Homura…" I moaned, barely able to think of anything coherent, "don't…"

"Aww… why not…" he murmured seductively, running his other hand over my bare chest, moving up to my neck and his fingers tracing my parted lips.

"Come on… I know you want this as much as I do…," came a whisper, a sinuous voice that has enchanted me, many a time before.

"I have a game tonight…" I managed with a hoarse groan, my voice sounding alien to my ears.

"Don't worry…" he reassured me, reaching out to close the window curtains in front of me, "we don't have to go all the way…"

This answer seemed to satisfy me. There was no need to question him. After all, Homura can give me the pleasure that I wanted and sought for, and even more. He can make me forget anything and everything around me. He was the perfect drug, deadly yet at the same time invigorating.

I turned around, and locked my arms around his neck, my golden orbs, looking down, unable to meet his own. Guilt. It has always been like this. Never once, in all our nights of passion play, did guilt never cross my heart. I'm only using Homura, to fill the empty void within my soul, to fill his memory, as his replacement. I knew Homura knew of this, of my selfish intentions. But never did he question me, nor even gave a damn.

I felt him cupping my chin and bring my face up to his gaze. "Tell me…" he murmured, "what do you want…?"

With half-lidded eyes, I replied, "I want you…"

He smirked.

Sanzo's POV

I sat in front of my desk, the screen of my laptop, illuminating my dark bedroom. Taking off my reading glasses, I massaged my temples. Glancing at the time on my laptop, I noticed that it was still 5:57p.m.

"The game would be starting right about now," I mused, suddenly thinking about Goku, only to give myself a migraine.

Fuck. I forgot, thinking about him usually end with me having a major headache. I opened my right hand drawer, searching for the aspirins that I stashed there sometime ago. But as luck would've had it, except for a bunch of old grocery receipts, a piece of mint and my missing fountain pen, they was no where to be found. I really don't need this right now. I clenched my fist, taking deep breaths to calm myself down. With an exasperated grunt, I closed my eyes and rested against the back of my arm chair, relishing the comfort it gave to soothe my aching back.

Sighing, I sat up and rummaged around in my bag. From it, I took out, a wad of tickets, basketball tickets. I flipped through them until I found what I was looking for. It was the ticket Hakkai gave me earlier today.

"Tohoku University v.s. Tohoku Fukushi University. Sendai Gymnasium, Sendai City. 6:00p.m. onwards," the ticket read.

Tohoku University in Sendai City. Yeah, that was where Goku studied now. During his senior year, Tohoku University had offered him a chance to be in their basketball team, if he'd decide to attend their school, that is. Seeing as Tohoku University was one of the best universities there was in Japan and heck, even in whole Asia 4, he immediately applied and passed their rumored hard - as - hell entrance examinations. It's no wonder really. He is one of the top students in our senior batch, alongside Hakkai, and that fucking Homura, so it's nothing unusual. Though it was said that, that the only reason why he was offered in the first place was because his father was friends with the school's director. But either way, they couldn't deny that Goku passed the entrance examination with flying colors.

"It's no wonder, he did graduate top of the batch, with not even a B+ tainting his grades…" I mused out loud.

I was abruptly snapped out of the tranquility of my room, when the shrill ring of my cell phone shook me out of my thoughts.

"Damn this thing…" I muttered under my breath, wondering vaguely why I even bothered to buy such a useless gadget.

Taking it out of my pocket, I flipped it open and held it to my ear. "What the fuck do you want?" came my usual greeting, not caring who was on the other line.

"My, my Sanzo, is that the way to talk to your old classmate?" came a familiar voice, a touch of humor lacing his tone, "I missed you too, you know…"

I narrowed my eyes, realizing who I was talking to. "Well I don't Homura," I spat out with disgust, "how'd you get my number?"

"You'll be surprised about the many things one can learn from Goku's phone…" he remarked. And speaking of Goku, you must want to know how he's doing…"

"Hell no," I retorted, "What makes you think I'd give a damn about him?"

"Oh really?" he replied, feigning surprise at this revelation, "well, it was a waste calling you to tell you your dear lover's calling for you then…"

At his words, I felt my heart beat, no pound, faster than it should have. "What that fuck are you talking about?" I demanded, half hoping that he was entailing what I think he was implying.

"He was calling for you, for a long time now," he replied, his voice grave and without its accompanied humor. "He doesn't know this but he calls for you in his sleep. In the four years that has passed this habit of his never stopped. And just this morning, he cried out you name just as he cam… I mean, he called out you name and let's just say he was well, half conscious of what he was doing this time…" I can hear his uneasy chuckle from the other end of the line.

Part of me wanted to rush right over to Sendai City, envelop Goku in my arms and whisper to him sweet nothings, but suddenly, my inflated ego kicked in. "And I should care why?"

"Sanzo, Sanzo, Sanzo, you haven't learned have you?" he remarked knowingly, "You and your ego… Well, I guess I'm not saying good-bye to my fucking toy tonight… I was hoping to give him back to his proper owner. I mean after what happened today, I figured that he'd want to stop the nightly routines and you know me… I have my needs but what can I do… force him despite his guilt? It's a… exciting prospect, but I can't have him telling me off to Gojyo or Hakkai now can I? That'll end me up in jail. Too bad though, he was a delightful plaything while it lasted…"

I gritted my teeth in irritation. I had half a mind to just torture him in every and the most grotesque and painful way possible that he will welcome death with open arms if not for the small fact that he was in Sendai City, and I, in Tokyo. "Don't you dare talk about him like that…" I spat out, "he is not a damn toy…"

"What would you care? After all didn't you say just a few minutes ago you didn't give a damn about him…? Oops… the game is starting. I better go and cheer my little doll on. Sayonara!" And with that, the line went dead.

With a growl of frustration, I threw the phone against the wall, not caring that it had cost me a small fortune. Damn him.

Grabbing my wallet and my coat, I sped out of my apartment, and ran towards the nearest train station with a bullet train heading to Sendai City.

Goku's POV

I jumped, ready to shoot what might be our team's last chance for a victory. Time was running out and our goal was right there, just a few feet away from me. I knew we could still win yet it seemed that our triumph won't come easily for just as I was about to make my move, two players from Tohoku Fukushi University tried to block my three point shot.

"I guess they aren't giving up," I realized, but I was ready for them. I faked a shot, and as soon as my feet touched the smooth surface of the court, I leaped up again, my opponents unable to stop me this time.

As the ball left my fingertips, time seemed to have stopped. Slowly, I watched it sail in an arc land perfectly inside the red metal hoop. And just as it did, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the game with a score of 89-88.

"We did it…" I breathed, a lopsided grin founding its way onto my lips. Applause and cheers erupted from inside the stadium. My teammates and our coach came running towards me, jumping and shouting in happiness, hardly believing that we won, finally beating our long-time rival, Tohoku Fukushi University!

I tried to scan the crowd, hoping to get a glimpse of Hakkai and Gojyo, and maybe even, a certain someone, but my teammates who were crowding around me made it hard for me to do so.

"I guess he didn't come after all…" I thought glumly, "who was I kidding? Thinking he might actually come this time…"

I was shaken out of my thoughts when I suddenly felt myself being hoisted up and found myself on top of our center's shoulders, my team and the crowd, all cheering my name.

I tried to manage a smile. I should be happy and I am, really I am. I mean we finally won! For three long years, Fukushi University kicked our asses but not anymore. And on top of that, it was I who brought us our long awaited victory. And yet, I didn't feel like celebrating.

"Victory party guys!" one of my teammates announced, "my place!"

A roar from the rest of the team followed.

I climbed down from our center's shoulders, and gave my team a weak and forced smile. "You go ahead guys," I told them, "I'll take a rain check."

"What?" they exclaimed.

"What that fuck Goku?" One of them replied, "We won and out of everyone here in this team, you're deserve this party the most! I mean, you did make the winning shot…"

"Yeah!" they agreed in unison, concern faintly etched within their eyes.

"Yeah well, I'll go celebrate with you guys some other time, ok?" I promised, hoping that they'll agree, "I'm really beat from the game and all, and I just want to go home and rest…"

"Come on guys, if he doesn't want to go, it's his decision," our coach said, "but you do deserve this you know…"

"Thanks anyway," I said, thanking every deity up in heaven that our coach isn't forcing me to go as well. "Have fun you guys," I added as an afterthought, before grabbing my stuff and heading to the locker rooms.

"But it'll still more fun if you came along Goku," our captain remarked.

"Don't worry, I'm sure it'll still be fun whether or not I'll be there," I exclaimed, giving them a smile of reassurance.

As soon as I was safely inside the locker rooms, I breathed out a big sigh of relief. Thank God that was over. I set down my duffel bag into one of the benches and sat down beside it, wiping my face with a towel, contemplating.

My teammates are really a good bunch of people. I mean, though we sometimes fool around and contend in some friendly competition once in a while, at the end of the day we'd always be friends. You can say that the team is sort of like a brotherhood or something like that. And though we'd never admit it out loud, we share a bond where, underneath our tough guy façades, there is brotherly care and concern for one another.

Although this is a usually good thing, sometimes, it becomes hard for me to keep my façade straight and just act normal if something is wrong and I don't want them to be aware about it. Especially since, they'd know if something is bugging me, even if my face doesn't even show it.

I sighed. Standing up, I kicked of my shoes and socks, and peeled off my sweaty uniform before stepping into the shower and letting the cold water caress every sore muscle and limb in my body.

For a while, I let my thoughts surrender to the oblivion, detaching myself from all my sorrows, hoping that with the water cascading down from me and onto the tiled floor, all my bitterness and pain I've long locked up inside of me would go along with it. From the back of my mind, I heard the door of the locker room open and even though I couldn't see him, I knew perfectly well who it was, or I assumed so.

"Make me forget again," I thought bitterly, "make me forget the pain of it all... I am yours to take, Homura."

Sanzo's POV

I bent over and rested against a wall, trying to gasp whatever breath I had left. "Fucking hell," I cursed, before staggering my way into the Sendai Gymnasium.

Once inside, I saw that all the bleachers were empty and there was no one save the maintenance crew in sight.

"I'm sorry sir but you have to leave," one of the nearby janitors told me, "the game ended half an hour ago and everybody already left…"

"Damn," I swore under my breath. I thought that if I rode the bullet train 5, maybe I just might get here in time, but I guess the fucking gods are again trying to get onto my last nerves. Oh joy!

"Fine," I snapped, the janitor, flinching at my tone, wishing he had just ignored me.

"Umm… you might want to dry yourself or something in the locker rooms before you go…" he stuttered, giving me some of the sort consolation, pointing to the said place.

I rolled my eyes but walked towards the locker room anyways. If there was one thing I hated, it's to have the feeling of one's sweat drenched clothes stick to you like second skin.

As I pushed open the heavy metal doors, I heard the sound of water, a faucet, or rather, an open shower. Curiously yet cautiously, I headed towards the source of the sound, already thinking up of ways to terrorize that janitor for lying to me.

Then, it seemed as if the past has once again come back to haunt me. For there, right in front of me, a boy of chestnut brown hair stood, facing the wall where the shower head was mounted upon. The water, cascading down every taunt muscle of his body, just like the rain had four years ago. As I gazed at him, it dawned to me that, my feet had suddenly stuck itself onto the floor and no matter how much my mind screamed for them to get a move no and turn away, they refused to follow.

I felt heat rise up to my cheeks as it had suddenly occurred to me that he was unclothed, and I averted my gaze, though not as quickly as I should have. Spying a fresh white bath towel inside a duffel bag on the bench behind me, I fished it out and held it out.

"You better get out of there soon or you'll catch a damn cold," I remarked, keeping my voice as neutral and monotone as possible.

Setting my gaze firmly on the tiled floor beside me, I heard him whip around, probably surprised at who his companion was or rather, turned out to be. For a while, no one said anything, only the sound of the running water and our breaths echoed inside the room. Then, after a long time of tranquility, I heard a turn of a knob, the sound of the water diminishing into the silence as I felt the white towel leave my grasp.

I knew he was already, okay barely, yet at least clothed yet my eyes never left the floor. I guess you can say that despite it having been four years since we last saw each other, the wounds haven't entirely healed yet.

"Damn the gods for putting me in such a compromising situation," I cursed inwardly, "I swear once I die, I'll barge into them and make them as miserable as I possibly can."

"Umm… thanks…" Goku mumbled, breaking the silence, uneasiness evident in his voice, "for the towel you know…"

"Ch…" came my response.

"I guess you haven't changed have you…?" He mumbled barely audibly, disappointed.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him walking towards me, or rather to where his belongings, his eyes downcast. I felt our shoulders brush against each other then, for some apparent reason, I grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

Part of me didn't know why in the fucking heavens did I do that and my ego was screaming for me to let go. Yet this time, I was doing this my way. No more, I wasn't going to let myself shrivel and hide behind my iron façade. And I will most definitely not prove that pervert Homura right. I have to do this, right here, right now.

"Look," I started, not really knowing quite what to say, "I know I really screwed up in the past and all… and… damn, this really isn't my department… look, I'm really just fucking sorry okay!"

Goku's POV

At his words, I felt myself laugh. Four years ago, I would've easily believed him, blindly accepted this and would shrug the past of as nothing but the past. But I have long grown and learned since this. And now, I knew better.

"Are you really?" I whispered, "That's a laugh…" I remarked, "So what made you do it? Come back and apologize I mean? Guilt…? Nah… You long threw away your feelings, even before I met you. But you know, I once thought that, maybe, just maybe your emotions, they're still there somewhere inside of you, the real you. And I just have to dig deep to get to them." I stopped, vaguely feeling a solitary tear rolling down my right cheek.

"But now as I look back, I realize, I was foolish to think such," I continued, "Foolish, utterly foolish…"

My sight was temporarily blinded with hot tears welling up in my eyes. I hugged myself, in search for some solace and comfort that I had long sought for, when, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap themselves around me and hug me from behind. Suddenly, I felt as if belonged there, to his touch and warmth. As I felt myself melt into his arms, all the longing and aching, had suddenly gone; the cold that had once enveloped me in all its gloom was replaced by a warm glow emanating from Sanzo and it seemed that finally, my broken heart has after four years, finally found the final missing piece.

"I came because I wanted to…" I heard him whisper.

It was then that I realized that this may be the closest thing to a love confession I'll ever get out of Sanzo, but even if there were no spoken words of love between us, the love will always be there, burning on.

I smiled. "I love you too… Sanzo…"

Normal POV

From behind a corner in the locker room, mismatched golden and aquamarine eyes watched the scene in front of him with great interest. Soon, a smile, or rather, a smirk would be better suited to describe such a despicable grin, found its way onto his lips.

"And they lived happily ever after…" he murmured, his eyes gleaming with a malicious glee, "the end… or maybe not…"

"That was rather noble of you, Homura," came a deep voice behind him, "I never dreamed to see the day that you'd finally let go of Goku."

"Yeah well…" the man known to be Homura replied, without turning to face his companion, "his same submissive routine over and over again…. fucking with Goku got a little boring…"

A red eyebrow raised in surprise. "Oh?" came a reply, "so is that why you gave him up? And what have you to gain by doing so?"

"I guess you can say a new toy caught my eye and I want him in bed"

"And who may this 'new toy' be?"

"Haven't you caught on yet? Why it my toy's feisty little owner…"

-End.

1 The black leather bag thingie that looks like a file case that lawyers uses… I don't really know what it's called so just correct me if I'm wrong. ü

2 Takaoka College of Law in Tokyo City

3 Short for medical coat. Self explanatory

4 As of the year 2000.ok? I'm not sure now….

5 The travel time for the fastest bullet train from Tokyo to Sendai would be roughly 2 hours.

A/N: Wow! I actually finished this fic… finally! I still can't believe I finished it… Lol Anyways, as you can see I left the fic with an open ending… hehehe… And since there is a very slim chance of a sequel or follow-up fic or whatever, you'd just have to get your imagination gears running and think up of your own beautiful (or grotesque) way to sack Homura.☺ In any case, I would like to thank everyone who spared some time to read or at least attempt to read this fic. Also, a whole lot of thanks to those who reviewed and added me/my fic to their author/story alert or to their favorites. And lastly, special thanks to those who've bothered to review even just once and, to those who've read this from the very beginning and up until now. Bye- bye!

P.S. Sorry if it was longer than usual…☺

(oct20.o5; 8:33p.m.)

My reply to the reviewers:

garrulous-seeker: sorry for the long wait!

sanzoxgoku lover : aww... thanks! i'm so touched...

Nekida: i'm glad you liked the park scene

yuriqo: i'm not that good... there are others who are way better than me... don't worry this chap is overloading with sanzoxgoku

evil punk: yeah! bad goku! lol

kiarah: thanks!

sk88ersam: i'm glad you thought so...

shinoa Yuuki: thanks! glad you liked it andthought it was worth it!

Koharu-chan:lol thanks very much!

Blood-Debt: hahaha! thank you all the same!

Crazy-Silly-Me: lol! Sanzo will kill you for beating up Goku! hahaha

cheerful-angel57: hahaha sorry for the mean cliffie!

My deepest thanks to:

Evil in Purity/Evil Punk/wasted loser/Evil(same person), Drarry Radton, cheerful-angel57/Den..., Am1-13th, Snake Mistress, Genjo Sanzo 1, ethereal-tenshi, kiestje, annonymouse, tennis-tensai, MOMOLA, kohaku-the-dark-angel, yuriqo/Nored, ice-dagger13, hanae-mirai, CookiesRock, mr.giggles, StarianPrincess, Crazy-Silly-Me, LynnLin, Ying Fa19, Komoyo Minku, Akito-kun, Destiny 852, dark abaddon, sk88ersam, Sanzo+Goku-lover/SanzoxGoku lover,Me-Nuriko, phyllis, Kurisutaru39, lin, Tree Girl, Chobit 00, airashal moon, Koinu ChiX0r, Wilson, Koto Juri, Blood-Debt, CT Saiyukily Twisted/CT, IchikoKitsumeKoumori, dragonfly-affinity, Kaede11, MasQu3raiN, xXxYuUrAiNxXx, Allie-chan, lost little girl, Celenah, blaCkFaia-nEkO, YJ, Sorceress Sakura, saiyukigurl227, Kiarah, Nekida, garrulous-seeker, and to those who read this but didn't review...

Thanks so much!

(oct22'o5;12:52p.m.)